1377.0 - Measures of a Knowledge-based Economy and Society, Australia, 2003  
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Contents >> Information and Communications Technology Indicators >> Proportion of individuals (adults aged 18 years or over) using the Internet for particular activities and purposes, including accessing government services

CHARACTERISTIC: HOUSEHOLD AND INDIVIDUAL USE OF ICT

INDICATOR: Proportion of individuals (adults aged 18 years or over) using the Internet for particular activities and purposes, including accessing government services

The most commonly reported purpose of Internet use at home, in 2002, was for personal or private use (89%).

PURPOSE OF INTERNET USE AT HOME(a)
Personal
or private purposes
Work
or business
related purposes
Educational
or study purposes
Other purposes
Year
%
%
%
%
2001(b)
87
36
32
7

2002
89
41
36
11

(a) More than one purpose may be nominated.
(b) Persons aged 65 years or over were not in scope in 2001. Totals include imputed data.
Source: ABS Household Use of Information Technology, Australia (cat. no. 8146.0).

The most popular uses of the Internet at home in 2000 were email or chat sites (68%), general browsing (57%) and finding information relating to work (36%).

ADULT HOME INTERNET ACTIVITIES, 2000(a)
Using email or chat sites
General browsing
Finding work related information
Finding study related information
Finding information on goods or services
Finding technical information, patches or software
Playing games
%
%
%
%
%
%
%

Total
68
57
36
26
26
16
8
(a) Proportions are of all adults accessing the Internet at home over the previous 12 months.
Source: ABS Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2000 (cat. no. 8146.0).


More than one in five (21%) adult Australians accessed government services via the Internet for private purposes in 2002 compared with less than one in ten (9%) in 2000. The Internet was used to pay bills by 49% of those adults who accessed government services in 2002.

ADULTS ACCESSING GOVERNMENT SERVICES VIA THE INTERNET FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES(a)
Proportion of adults who
accessed government services(b)
Pay bills(c)
Taxation information
or services(c)
Employment information
or services(c)
Submit taxation
returns(c)
Pension or benefit information
or services(c)
Year
%
%
%
%
%
%

2000
9
r33
32
28
15
7

2001
16
38
25
24
14
6

2002
21
49
20
20
20
6
(a) From home or other locations over the previous 12 months.
(b) Proportion is of all adults.
(c) Proportions are of adults accessing government services via the Internet.
r revised.
Source: ABS Household Use of Information Technology, Australia (cat. no. 8146.0).


An estimated 15% of adults were Internet shoppers (from home or other locations) in 2002. Of those, 46% made orders or purchases valued at $500 or less.

ADULTS PURCHASING OR ORDERING GOODS OR SERVICES VIA THE INTERNET FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES(a)
Proportion of all adults who were Internet shoppers(b)
Total purchases and orders valued
at $1–$500(c)
Total purchases and orders valued
at over $500(c)
Year
%
%
%
1999
5
70
29

2000
7
68
29

2001
11
61
39

2002
15
46
54

(a) From home or other locations over the previous 12 months.
(b) Proportion is of all adults.
(c) Proportions are of adult Internet shoppers. Percentages may not add to 100 due to a number of responses where the value of purchases and orders were unknown.
Source: ABS Household Use of Information Technology, Australia (cat. no. 8146.0).


STATISTICAL NOTES

Household data are from the ABS Household Use of Information Technology Survey. Up to 2000 data was collected as part of the ABS Population Survey Monitor (PSM) in 2001 as part of the Survey of Education, Training and Information Technology (SETIT) and in 2002 as part of the General Social Survey (GSS).

Internet
A world-wide collection of computers which are linked together to form a repository of stored information and to provide a range of communication services. These services include, but are not limited to, the World Wide Web (WWW), email and extranet.

Chat
Real-time communication between two users via computer. Once a chat has been initiated, either user can enter text by typing on the keyboard and the entered text will appear on the other user's monitor. Most networks and online services offer a chat feature. Source: http://www.webopedia.com/.

Internet shopping
Purchasing or ordering goods or services via the Internet for private use.



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